Selecting The Right Car At A Chrysler Jeep Dodge Dealership
Posted on January 18, 2021
A whopping 17.22 million cars were sold in 2018 alone. Not only that, but the sale of new automobiles reached more than $1 trillion as well. What does this mean to you? If you're curious about how to buy a car, there are a few key tips and tricks that you should learn first. Take a look at how to select the right car at a Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership!
Figuring Out What You Need
Ready to head to the car dealership? First of all, you've got to figure out what you need in a vehicle. But here's the kicker: if you're a newbie to the car buying game or haven't bought a new car in forever, it can be difficult to get started.
Luckily for you, we're here to help you find a car that will meet your needs for many years. As if that's not enough, we've also got the scoop on the whole planning and research process too. And here's the best part.
Once you finally find the car that is the perfect fit for you, you can easily decide between the following options:
- Buying a pre-owned vehicle
- Leasing a newer vehicle
- Buying a newer vehicle
Not sure where to begin? Here's the thing - it's up to you to find out what you want from your next vehicle. While some like to choose flashy, expensive cars, others prefer fast engines and strong horsepower.
The point is that it's all about how your new car will make you feel. But honestly, most of us would probably be satisfied with a solid commuter vehicle that's super practical. Keeping this in mind, here are a few things that you should consider before you visit the car dealership.
For starters, how many guests are you planning to drive with? If you have a large family, you can't go wrong with checking out minivans. On the other hand, single, young people most likely wouldn't need as much space, choosing a smaller, flashier vehicle.
On top of that, you have to think about how much you're planning to drive your new car as well. Looking for a Jeep dealership near you? Nowadays, all you have to do is a quick search online to discover the closest one!
Setting Up a Car Budget
Need help setting up a car budget? You're not alone. One of the smartest things that you can do is think about how much you'll be driving and how much gas you'll be using.
For example, are you more of a highway driver or do you like to take the side streets? Once you figure out your answer, you'll be able to decide if you want a vehicle with or without mileage on it. Then there's the whole fuel economy thing, which is ultra-important for people who commute daily to work.
Are you choosing to pay cash or credit for your new vehicle? If you don't have a ton of cash on hand, you'll probably want to decide between how you'll be able to finance your car. To start, you have to take a look at what you can realistically spend on a monthly car payment.
But here's a word of advice: our general rule of thumb is that your new car payment shouldn't cost you more than 15 percent of your monthly paycheck. And let's face it: it's usually way cheaper to purchase a used vehicle.
However, that doesn't mean that you should totally ignore this rule if you're looking for a pre-owned car. For those who want to lease their vehicle, try to shoot for a car payment that's under 10 percent of your monthly paycheck.
Next, you need to add about seven percent of your monthly paycheck to pay for insurance and gas expenses. Of course, thinking about all this before you hit the car lot is key to helping you negotiate with your car dealer.
Not sure what you can afford? There is always a finance calculator that you can use online as well. That way, finding a car within your price range should be a breeze!
Leasing vs. Buying a Car
Having trouble deciding between leasing or buying a car? We got your back. First things first, it's essential to weigh out the pros and cons of both options.
That way, you'll be able to figure out which path you want to take. For instance, signing a lease may not even require any money down at all. Plus, you'll most likely have a lower car payment every month as well.
But here's the catch: once your lease is over, you won't have a vehicle anymore, meaning you'll have to go to the car dealership again. Meanwhile, purchasing a vehicle is going to cost you way more money upfront. Not to mention that you'll probably have a higher car payment to take care of each month too.
On the bright side, you'll actually own your vehicle as soon as you can make your last payment on your loan. Now, you're guaranteed to live car payment-free as long as your car is up and running. Still, confused about whether you should lease or buy your next vehicle?
To keep it simple, here are a couple of benefits that come with leasing your new car:
- You won't have to worry about trading it in when you finish your lease
- Most of your car repairs are covered under the manufacturer's warranty
- You can swap out cars every couple of years, which usually include tech upgrades
But wait - there's more. Some of the perks of buying a vehicle include:
- Reducing your overall vehicle costs if you plan to keep your car for a long time
- You won't have to worry about mileage fees for driving too much
- You can change up your car's appearance as much as you need
Got all that down yet? Now, it's time to make your final car buying decision!
Making Your Final Car Buying Decision
Want to take it up a notch? When it comes to making your final car-buying decision, it really pays to follow your heart. What we mean by that is that you've finally got to decide about which car you're going to purchase.
But here's the thing: with so many new vehicles hitting the showroom at once, it's almost impossible to find out which one is the best fit for you. Fortunately enough, we've got you covered. The first step if looking at other vehicles within the same class as your dream car.
To make sure that you're not missing out on a better deal, you can search online to find a similar type of vehicle. When you're ready, take a close look at the following information:
- Car pricing
- Car specifications
- Car contract features
Otherwise, you can look online to find the car type that you want. For instance, if you're on the hunt for a sport utility vehicle, then you'll most likely want to check out their customer ratings to narrow down your search. Once you're done with that, you need to think about how you'll hand the cost of owning a vehicle.
The craziest part is that even if several cars have the exact same cost, one may lose its value much more quickly than the other. In addition, you might have to pay more money to maintain and insure one as well. How can you possibly decide?
All you have to do is calculate your new car's ownership expenses before you sign any paperwork. That includes things like:
- Depreciation
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- Gas fees
If you're not so great at math, you can find evaluation tools online to do all the hard work for you. Thinking about visiting your local Dodge dealership? Have your car picked out first!
Finding Cars For Sale
Dying to know how to find cars for sale? Back in the day, you used to have to visit the car dealership yourself to check out the inventory options. However, today's car dealerships usually have their entire inventory available to check out online.
Not only does finding cars for sale online save you time, but it saves you money as well. As if that's not enough, you can also find out if your dream car is available for sale too. Bonus points for widening the distance of your search to view more car-buying options.
Pro tip: you can even add special filters to your search to pick out your favorite car in a certain color. Plus, some auto dealerships can offer you a solid price on a particular car make and model. Now that you've got your wallet out, we suggest that you get a few different estimates from other dealerships to do your own price comparison.
Soon after you request an offer, expect to hear back from the car dealership via phone call or email. After they tell you if your preferred car is available, you can ask them for a test drive. But if you're still not sure, just write down what they say and call them back when you can.
Searching for the closest Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership to your home? It doesn't hurt call them to schedule a test drive while you're at it!
Test Driving Your Vehicle
Here comes the fun part: test driving your new vehicle. If you've already called, emailed, or texted your car dealership to book a test drive, then you're one step ahead of the game.
Another perk of contacting your car representative is getting valuable information about car pricing ahead of time as well. Now that your appointment is officially scheduled, you can rest assured that the car of your choice will be waiting for you when you get there.
For those who are still scratching their heads, there's no harm in test driving at least three separate cars so you can see all of your options. In addition, you can even make a couple of test driving appointments on different days to make it less overwhelming.
Want to get prepared for your test drive? Trust us - when you get in the front seat, the only thing you have to do is drive your new car like you would if you already owned it. So, if you spend a lot of time commuting, take your car out for a spin on the freeway.
For those who prefer mountain roads, try to take your test drive up and down a hill. Don't forget to pump the brakes, take a corner tightly, and run over speed bumps too. Additionally, you can get out of the car and spend some time in the back seat, which is helpful if you're driving with kids.
Better yet, inspect the storage space as well. And feel free to bring car seats to see if they fit too. Then, take high-quality photos of the car to look at later on. After that, making your car purchase should be stress-free!
On the hunt for the best Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership, Ontario has to offer? Check out customer reviews in advance!
Head to Your Chrysler Jeep Dodge Dealership
Want to know how to find the right car for you? It's simple. We highly recommend that you head to your Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership today.
Once you test drive the car of your dreams, don't be surprised if you want to drive off the lot with it. Promise we won't judge!
Need a hand with your car search? Give us a call to schedule a free consultation!